2.07.2012

something's not quite right

I've been itching to sew some clothes, so I set out on saturday to sew a Wiksten Tank with sleeves (inspired by Kristina's top).

So I promptly cut the pattern for the Tova Top. The Tova Top is not the Wiksten Tank. I realized after cutting the front and back. Then I walked away.

Then I bought one can of spray paint that lasted me only so long (this turned out ok; more later).

And then Meredith. Oh my goodness, Meredith. This sweater has given me more grief than all knitting and sewing mistakes of mine combined.

I started this sweater in fall of 2008. An 11-color fair isle is not recommended for a first sweater. I tend to be a little "sink or swim." I'm sinking. There have been either 3 or 4 iterations of this sweater over the years as I have pulled it out completely multiple times due to incorrect gauge/poor fit (I do think the shape of the pattern is strange and made adjustments anyways). After a 2+ year time out, I pulled it out for 2012, and thought I had it figured out. Well, here it is compared to my nicely-fitting humanoid knockoff.

My gauge is off by two stitches per four inches (28 instead of 30). But I also knit down to adjust the waist-shaping, knitting an XS after the initial waist decreases.

Against my better judgement, I am determined. But I think I need to do something drastic. Either I am pulling it out for the final time and adjusting the stitch count drastically according to my own calculations and keeping the gauge that I can't seem to adjust or... do I do something crazy like steeking?! As scary as steeking sounds, not knitting this a 4th (or 5th) time sounds nice. So do I just chop off those sides? I don't know... I know nothing about steeking.

I also have a hat in the works that also is not working how I planned but I might just finish it up anyways. And one small house project up next that did work for the most part. I'm one for five so far?...

2 comments:

Aw, I'm sorry it's all not working out right now! That can be so frustrating. I can't offer any sweater advice but I'm sure you'll figure it out! I still think that fair isle is far too beautiful not to become the sweater of your dreams :)